Red Sox place Romy Gonzalez on IL, still don't plan to use Devers at first

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox put first baseman Romy Gonzalez on the 10-day injured list with a left-quad contusion, retroactive to May 8. In a corresponding move, the Red Sox recalled 2B Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester with a plan to have him split time with Abraham Toro.

Sogard was in the starting lineup Saturday against Kansas City left-hander Cole Ragans.

“I think is a short-term thing,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Gonzalez before Saturday's game. “He wasn’t bouncing back the way we expected early. So it makes sense just to take care of him and he’ll be alright.”

There was plenty of drama following Thursday's win over the Texas Rangers, when designated hitter Rafael Devers said he wouldn't play first base. That caused the Red Sox brass to travel to Kansas City for meetings with Devers. Cora was asked if this latest move might lead to Devers starting to take ground balls at first base.

“We'll keep talking about stuff,” he said, deflecting the question. “We'll keep looking for our alternatives. We'll do what we need to do to keep getting better. We've got Romy, we've got Toro now, and we've got Sogi. That’s the route we’re gonna have right now.”

Gonzalez was hitting .308 in 17 games after replacing Triston Casas, who is out for the year with a ruptured tendon in his left knee. He has an OPS of .785.

Sogard will be making his season debut Saturday, after hitting .188 in 28 games with Worcester. His OPS is .562. He hit .273 in 31 games with Boston in 2024.

“He’s a good defender,” Cora said. “He’s a good player. We’ll mix and match with him and Toro. Today (Kansas City has) a tough lefty on the mound, so I think it made sense for him to play. The two of them will be splitting first the next week or so.”

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